Journal box packing retainer



06. 26, 1939. A. DIENSTEL 2,185,075

JOURNAL BOX PACKING RETAINER Filed June 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E I 4 /V A/ A1 Z7 Z3 :223 27 Z? 3 22, I

*1 1 x N 20 Z) INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1939. A. DIENSTEL JOURNAL BOX PACKING RETAINER Filed June 1, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J i 1 m V I. u v

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to packing retainers for journal boxes, of the type used on railway cars, and its general object is to provide a retainer for holding the lubricant saturated packing or waste 5 under constant tension and properly positioned with respect to the journal so as to assure positive lubrication of the latter, thus preventing a condition commonly called a "hot box".

A further object is to provide a packing re- 10 tainer for journal boxes that can be easily and expeditiously applied and removed with respect to the box and is readily adjustable for that purpose, as well as being capable of easy adjustment when disposed within the box, for arrangement 16 in fitting association therewith.

Another object is to provide a packing retainer that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely emcient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in'the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in a the appended claims. 7

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

a Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a journal box and illustrates my retainer in use.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2-4 of Figure 1, looking in'the direction of the-arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of my retainer per se.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 5--5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken approximate- 5 1y on line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the wire frames of my retainer, 1

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral i indicates the body of a journal box, 2 the journal, 8 the brass, l the wedge and 5 the wedge supporting lugs. The body is provided with the usual cover plate 6 and disposed within the body is a mass of packing I of cotton waste or other absorbent material that is saturated with lubricant for the journal 2. In practice, it is well known that the packing 'l tends to work away from the journal, and assumes a position between the front of the box and the head of the journal, thus the latter be- 5 comes dry which results in the so-called "hot box, but by the use of my retainer, the packing is held properly positioned with respect to the journal at all times, to assure complete lubrication thereof. 10

My retainer includes a pair of companion frames, each made from a single strand of resilient wire bent to provide parallel portions 8, and the portions 8 of each frame are longitudinally slidably associated with each other to provide 16 an elongated rectangular front frame member, as best shown in Figure 4, and for adjustment of the frames relative to each other, to allow ready application and removal of the retainer with respect to the box, as well as fitting asso- 20 ciation thereof within the box, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figures 2 and 3.

The frames are connected together by a central plate 9 formed from sheet metal or other material suitable for the purpose, and which has its opposed edge portions folded upon themselves to provide channels l0 within which are slidably mounted the parallel portions 8, to bring about the adjustment as previously set forth. The outermost portion 8 of each frame member is bent at right angles to provide end portions II and from the end portions H and the outer ends of the inner portions 8, the strands are bent rearwardly to provide front upwardly inclined portions I2 from which extends relatively long horizontal spaced parallel portions I3 that extend into rear upwardly inclined portions l4, and the strands from the portions M are horizontally disposed to provide upper horizontal portions l5 which terminate into coils l6 having formed 4,0 thereon and forwardly extending at an upward inclination therefrom, spring arms H.

The portions of the strand that provide the spring arms are spaced for a distance of their length from their connection with the coils, and thence are disposed into contacting engagement as best shown in Figure 4, which likewise discloses that the spring arms terminate in substantially V-shaped ends l8 providing shoulders I 8.

Mounted upon the ends of the front frame member and cooperating with the central plate 9 for holding the portions 8 properly spaced, are end plates 20 provided with tongues 2| bent aboutvthe portions 8 and the end portions II, as

best shown in Figure 4, and the plates 8 provide a supporting base for a pair of upright cylinders 22 that include upper and lower caps 23 and 24; Secured to and extending from the lower caps are threaded shanks 25 threaded in nuts 26 fixed to the undersurface of the plates 20. as best shown in Figure 5 for vertical adjustment of the cylinders, as will be apparent.

Slidably mounted through the upper caps 23 are the stems 21 of plungers for movement within the cylinders, and the inner ends of the stems have formed therewith abutment members 28 for coil springs 29 which urge the plungers outwardly of the cylinders, and secured to the outer ends of the stems are arcuate heads 30.

The upper wall of the body of the box has preferably formed on the inner surface thereof cross sectional rounded ribs 3| for the purpose of receiving the arcuate heads 30 of the plungers, when my retainer is positioned within the box, as best shown in Figure 1, and when so positioned. the rearwardly extending portions of the frames are disposed vupon opposite sides of the journal and upon the mass of packing 1, with the coils engaging the rear wall of the body of the box and with the shoulders l9 engaged with the lugs 5, as well as with the front frame member disposed in front of the journal to engage the forward portion of the packing. By that arrangement, coupled with the resiliency of the rearwardly extending portions and the spring pressed plungers, it will be obvious that the packing is held under constant tension and properly positioned with respect to the journal, so as to prevent any possibility of displacement of the packing, thus providing ample lubrication for the journal at all times.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A packing retainer for a journal box, comprising companion frames connected together for lateral adjustment and including an elongated front frame member for disposal in advance of the journal to engage the packing, spring pressed means rising from the front frame member for engagement with the box to urge said member against the packing, and spring means extending rearwardly from said journal for disposal upon opposite sides of the journal and for engagement with the box and packing to cooperate with said member for holding the packing in place.

2. A packing retainer for a journal box, comprising companion frames-connected together for lateral adjustment and including an elongated j frame member for disposal in advance of the journal to engage the packing, spring pressed means rising from the front frame member for engagement with the box to urge said member against the packing, spring means extending 3. A packing retainer for a journal box, comprising companion frames connected together for lateral adjustment and including an elongated front frame'member for disposal in advance of' the journal to engage the packing, cylinders secured to and rising from the front frame member,-spring pressed plungers mounted for slidable movement in and through the cylinders, means on the outer ends of the plungers for engagement with the box to urge said member against the packing, and spring means extending rearwardly from said member for disposal upon opposite sides of the journal and for engagement with the. box and packing to cooperate with said member for holding the packing in place.

4. A packing retainer fora journal box, comprising companion frames connected together for lateral adjustment and including an elongated front frame member for disposal in advance of the journal to engage the packing, spring pressed means rising from the front frame member for engagement with the box to urge said member against the packing, spring means extending rearwardly from said member for disposal upon opposite sides of the journal and to engage the packing, the rearwardly extending spring means being stepped from its connection with said member to be elevated in a plane above the same, said rearwardly extending spring means terminating in coils at its rear end, and spring arms forwardly extending from the coils for engagement with the box to cooperate with said member and the rearwardly extending spring means to hold the packing in place.

5. A packing retainer for a journal box,'com-' prising companion frames, each including parallel portions, means slidably connecting the parallel portions of each frame together to provide a front frame member and for adjustment of said frames laterally with respect to each other, said frame member adapted fordisposal in advance of the journal to engage the packing, end plates secured to said parallel portions at the ends of said frame member, spring pressed means rising from and adjustably secured to the plates, said spring pressed means adapted for engagement with the box to urge said frame member against the packing, spring means extending rearwardly from said frame member for disposal upon opposite sides of the journal and to engage the packing, coils at the rear ends of the rearwardly extending spring means, and forwardly extending arms formed on the coils and terminating in substantially V-shaped ends providing shoulders for engagement with the box to cooperate with said frame member and the rearwardly extending spring means to hold the packing in place.

ARTHUR DIENSTEL. 

